Bed construction



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 'H|ll|I.

BED CONSTRUCTION Aug. 28, 1962 Filed June 16, 1959 ,MFIWIIIIIIIIN I IJrIII n II IIIIIHIIIIII I L 1 w wf Aug. 2s, 1962 Filed June 16, 1959 BEDCONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 to-A559' Il 66 77uv 86 l 703' 26- 26 70959 "772 705/J 30 i 74M L 703 V92 Aug. 28, 1962 s. N. MANN ErAL BEDCONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 16, 1959 ent Free

3,059,744 BED CNSTEUN Stuart N. Mann, Derby, and Arthur Boyd Doty,Buialo,

NX., assignors to Hard Manufacturing Company, Buffalo, N.Y.

Filed .lune 16, 1959, Ser. No. 820,637 Claims. (Cl. 5-63) This inventionrelates to beds of the type which may be adjusted to various heightsabove the door. Beds of this type are particularly desirable for use inhospitals since they may be lowered to a position in which the bed framewould be approximately at the height of a bed in a home, or to anelevation convenient for examination or treatment of a patient bydoctors or nurses. It is also desirable to have beds of this kindconstructed so that they may be raised and lowered by power or manually.

Gne of the objects of this invention is to provide a bed of this typewith improved simplied construction which will provide the maximumcomfort for a patier and which may be raised and lowered without shock,noise or vibration.

Another object is to provide beds of this kind with improvedcounter-balancing springs to compensate at least in part for the weightof the bed. A further object is to provide a bed of this type which maybe raised and lowered manually or by power.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a mechanism arrangedina bed and which is readily accessible for inspection, adjustments orrepair. Another object is to provide an improved gear box or housingcontaining a part of the drive by means of which the bed is raised andlowered.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevation of a bed provided with raising and loweringmechanism embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of a bed on an enlarged scale with a panelremoved to show the raising and lowering mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view thereof on lines 3-3, FiG.2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation thereof on line 4-4, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof on line 5-5, FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof on line 6 6, FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 7-7, FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary elevations with certain parts removed ofthe improved mechanism embodying this invention showing the positions ofthe parts near opposite portions of their paths of movement.

The bed may be of any usual orsuitable construction, that shown by wayof example including end frame members 8 connected by side rails or bars9 on which a mattress-supporting frame or spring of any desired type maybe mounted.

The end frame members S may be of any desired type, and in theparticular construction shown by way of example, each has the usualupper and lower transverse members 11 and 12, the opposite ends of whichare connected to upper leg parts 14. The legs of the bed each comprisetwo parts 14 and 15 slidably arranged relative to each other, thoseshown being telescopically arranged one within the other, the lowerparts 15 in the construction shown resting on the door and the parts 14together with the transverse members secured thereto being adjustablevertically relatively to the leg parts 15.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that by raising andlowering the upper leg members or parts i4 relative to the parts 15, thebed will be raised or lowered.

The raising and lowering of the end frames relative 5 to the leg parts15 is preferably accomplished by similar mechanisms located in each endmember and consequently the mechanism of only one end member will bedescribed. This mechanism includes a pair of levers which lie within theend members and which are pivoted intermediate of their ends on the bedframe. These levers have their outer ends pivotally connected to theupper ends of the lower legs 15 within the other leg members or parts14. For this purpose the upper ends of the legs 14 have slots orrecesses 22 formed in the inner walls or surfaces thereof through whichthe outer ends of the levers extend during the up and down movement ofthese leg parts 14 relatively to the endsof the levers. The pivotconnections between the levers and the leg members 15 may be made in anysuitable or desired manner, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, 8 and 9 inwhich the outer ends of the levers extend Vthrough the slots 22 in theupper leg members 14 and have pivot pins 2 extending through upwardlyextending parts 25 of the lower leg members i5. Wheels or rollers 26 arepivoted to rotate about the pivot pins 24 and to extend into closeproximity to the opposite walls of the upper leg members 14 tofacilitate vertical movement of the outer ends of the levers and toguide theseends of the levers in their movement and to guide the saidleg members in their relative movements.

The inner ends of the levers are pivoted at 23 to nuts 30 which havethreaded engagement with upright screw shafts 3l. These nuts haveoutwardly extending flat arms or webs, a pair of these webs 32 beingprovided as shown in FlG. 3 at each side of each nut. The inner ends ofthe levers extend between these pairs of webs and are pivoted thereto bymeans of the pivot pins 28.

Since the distance between the nut 30 and the ends of the levers variesdepending upon the angular positions of the levers with reference to thescrew 3l, means are provided for compensating for this variation in thelengths of the lever. In the construction shown for this purpose eachlever is made in two parts, an inner part 35 being connected with thepivot pin 28 and the nut 30 and the other or outer part 36 of the leverbeing connected with the pivot pin 24 and the lower leg member, as hasbeen described. These two parts of each lever are slidably arrangedrelatively to each other, and in the construction shown for this purposethe lever part 36 is formed of two sides 37 which are arranged atopposite sides of the lever part 35, and the lever part 35 may movelengthwise within the space between the two lever sides 37. In order toreduce the friction Ibetween the two parts of the lever, the part 36 isprovidedwith a plurality of wheels or disks 49 arranged between the twosides 37 of this lever part and mounted to rotate on pivots or bolts 41which also serve to connect the sides 37 of this lever part. The outerends of the two sides of the lever part 36 are preferably bent intocontact to extend through the slot in the upper leg part 14 as shown at39. Any other construction for providing a slidalble connection betweenthe two lever parts may be provided.

Each lever is pivoted intermediate of its ends to a fixed motion, freeYfrom jerking or uneven motion which` would be annoying to a patientoccupying the bed.

As a result of this construction, it will be obvious that Y as ythe nut30 is moved up andjdown by rotation of the screw 31, each lever will be'swung about its pivot 46 to move the bed end up and down with relationtothe lower leg and during this swinging the two lever parts 3S and 36will slide relatively to each other.

i In order to counteract to a certain extent the yweight ofthe bed,.Ihave provided a pair of springs 50 and 51 cooperating with each lever.The upper spring 50 is connected at one end Ythereof -to an upwardlyextending yarm or bracket 52 secured to the lever part 36' and at itsopposite end to one arm of the lbell crank lever 53 pivoted at 54 on thelever pa-rt 36. The otherv or lower spring 51 is pivoted at its lowerend to the transverse frame member 12 and the upper end of this springis connected tov a link 56 pivoted at 57 to `the `other arm of the bellcrank i lever.53. By means of these two springs and their con Theswinging of the bell crank about its pivot is lim-V ited by a projection53' which contacts lthe portion 39 of the leverY part 36, which preventsthe bell crank lever from moving into dead center relation to the spring50.

By means of the arrangement of the springs 50 and 51 and bell cranklever 53, it willY be obvious that the spring 51 will exert a downwardpull on the outer end of the two-piece lever at all times, thus exertingan upward force on the bed. When the outer end of this lever is in itslofwest position so that the lower spring 51 would normally be reducedin length, the upper spring 50 will pull the bell crank into theposition shown in FIG.,8, thustending to materially lengthen the spring51 and enableit to Yexert downward pressure on the outer end of thelever Y to a'much greater extent than would be possible if the strip orintermediate transverse frame member 61 con- 45 nected Vat itsl oppositeends to the side rails or bars 9. The motor 58.may be connected with theshaft 60 to rotate the same in either direction in any suitable or usualmanner, the motor preferably having a gear reduction mechanism 62mounted adjacent to one end thereof and which connects with thelongitudinal shaft'60. Y

Each end'fofV the shaft 60 has Ian extension 73' which extends into vagear box 63 and is connected by means of a pair of bevel gears 64 and 65with an upright shaft 66, the upper end of which is suitably connectedwith the screw shaft 31 inany suitable or desired manner. For example,the shaft '66 extends upwardly through an upright sleeve 67 havinga diskor'plate 68 covering the upper endthereofand radial Vbearings 701areprovided at thev upper Vand lower ends ofthe sleeve 67. A thrust bearing71 lis provided which Yrests on Ythe disk orgplate 68 and supports thelowerend of thescrew shaft 131. The screw shaft is of larger diameterthan the upright shaft 66 andfconsequently theV part'of the screw shaftwhich'V extendsl outwardly beyond the upright shaft rests'upon thethrust bearing. The lowerV end of'the screw shaft has a ilat sidedextension which extendsinto a Vslot in the upper ably housed withintubular housing members or shells,V

Y each including an upright tubular'part 77 and a hor-izontallyextending lower tubular part 78, both'of these parts Vbeing preferablyintegral with each other. The hon'zon- Ytally extending part 78 has'apairV of radialV bearings 80 and Y driven projections or beads 82whichcooperate with parts end of the upright shaft 66, thus forming adriving connec- Ition between these two shafts and also making itreadily possible to disconnect the two shafts.V A similar slottedconnection is provided between the shaft 60land its ex, tensions 73, oneof which isA shown at the lower Vend of FIG. 4.

The various parts of the drive connections between the longitudinalshaft'60 and fthe `serewshafts 31 are preferof the radial bearings and81v to secure them inY place. An end cap 85 is provided to exclude dustand foreign matter from this bearing housing. Y

The upwardly extendingrtubular part of this4 bearing housing preferablyalso has inwardly extending projections 86 which extend into recesses ofthe tube or sleeve 67 to hold the same in place on the bearing housing,

The tubular housing for the bearings and bevel gears. is suspended froma Vsleeve or stud'90 which is suitably secured to the traansverse framemember 12 in any desired manner, for example, by turning or Hanging overportions 91 of this sleeve or collar against the 4interior of the framemember 12 -which,'if desired, may be provided with reinforcing channelor insert 92, FIGS. 4 and 7. VrI 'he vstud. or sleeve 901is providedwith an annular recess or'rgroove, and the upwardlyV extending tubularhousing part 77.isv

provided with apertures facing the recess Vso that `keys Y94` may extendthrough these holesinto the recessjin the' sleeve or studV 90. The keysare'suitably held against turning and in turn hold the tubular housingagainst turning.

secured by means of cap screwsV 96 to the frame member 12. Thisconstruction also forms a secure Vsupport for theV drive mechanismcontained in this tubular housing, and facilitates removal of this partof the'mechanism by removing the keys 94, whereupon the tubular housingmay be moved downwardly out Yof' engagement with studsV for inspectionand repairs. Similarly thek construction described greatly facilitatesthe assembly of 'the drive mechanism on a bed. The detachableconnections between the upright shaft 67 and screw shaft 31 and YbetweenA 'Y the extension 73 thereofV the main drive shaft 60 and facilitatethis removal.

As before stated, the main longitudinal shaft 60 and the screw shafts inthe bed ends may be rotated manually if desired, in which case asprocket chain v100 is'provided the upper, transverse frame member 11.This bracket, as shown in FIG. 5, has a bearing sleeve 106 securedthereto in such a manner that the bracket and the panel 103 support thissleeve to form a bearing for a crank shaft 107 to which the sprocketgear 102'is secured. 'Ihe crank arm 59 is also secured to this shaft 107and is provided at the outer `end thereof with a handle 10`9"for turningthe upper sprocket wheel .102 and actuating' the chain to rotate-theshaft '60 `throughthe medium ofthe; lower sprocket wheel 101. Aguard 112 may be arranged j, Y about the sprocket chain and gears and issuitablyr secured to panel 103 at the lower bed end.

Y It will -be understood, ofcourse, that either the motor Y drive forthe shaft 60 or thehand-operated drive' may be omitted in case it is notdesired to. provide both of these parts onV a bed. The crank 59ispreferably removable when the Ibed is to be operated by motor, v.butmay be Y readily inserted in placein case of power failure. f When' themechanism'is to 'be actuated only byA hand, the motor 58 is omitted.When the bed is` to be operated only by power, the lower sprocket wheel101 is removed or omitted from the shaft extension 73y and the otherparts-,ofY

In the particular construction shown forrthisj purpose, the keys areprovided with offset extensions 951 spears/i friction is present whenthe mechanism is actuated and there is very little tendency of themechanism to bind. The springs have the advantage of greatlyfacilitating the raising ofthe bed by requiring less torque for thispurpose. Also the arrangement of the springs and the bell crank leversto which they are attached cause the springs to exert the greatest forcewhen the mechanical advantage of leverage is the least.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials andarrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustratedin order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by thoseskilled in the art, within the principle and scope of the invention, asexpressed in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a vertically adjustable bed comprising a bed frame including bedends having legs each of which comprises two connected parts slidablevertically relatively to each other, one part of each leg resting on thefloor and the other part being secured to a bed end, that improvementwhich includes a pair of levers pivoted to each other on each end framein spaced relation to said legs, and eX- tending from the middle of thebed end in opposite directions to said legs, each lever comprising twoparts slidably connected with each other to vary the length of the leverand held in alinement with each other, one end of the lever beingconnected with the leg part resting on the oor, means for raising andlowering the other end of said lever, and a pivoted link for each lever,said link having a pivotal connection with the bed end and a pivotalconnection With its lever.

2. A bed end for an adjustable bed including a pair of legs formed intwo telescopically arranged parts, one of which is formed to stand onthe oor and the other of which is secured to said bed end, a pair oflevers pivoted' intermediate of their ends on said bed end and eachcomprising two parts slidably connected with each other, Y

parts standing on the floor being arranged Within the other leg parts,antifriction rollers pivoted on the upper end of said leg part whichstands on the oor in its movement within said other leg part and havinga rolling contact with said other leg part, and a pivot member whichconnects said leg part which stands on the floor with said lever and onwhich said rollers are pivotally mounted to guide said lever in itsmovement. Y

3. In a vertically adjustable =bed comprising a bed frame including bedends having legs each comprising two connected parts slidable verticallyrelatively to each other part being secured to a bed end, thatimprovement which includes a pair of levers pivotally mounted on eachbed end and each having an end thereof connected with said first legpart, means for moving the other ends of said levers to swing abouttheir pivotal connections for raising and lowering said lbed, and springmeans connecting said bed end with the end of the lever adjacent to theiirst mentioned leg part, said spring means including a spring securedat one end to said lever andextending substantially parallel to saidlever, a bell crank lever pivoted on said tirst mentioned lever andhaving said spring connected to an arm thereof, andanother springconnected with the other arm of said bell crank lever and with said bedend.

4. A bed construction according to claim 3, in which said levercomprises two parts slidable relatively to each other, one of said partsbeing connected with said iirst mentioned leg part, said rst mentionedspring and said `bell crank lever being mounted on said irst mentionedlever part. v

5. In a vertically adjustable bed comprising a bed frame including bedends having legs each of which comprises two connected parts slidablevertically'relatively to each other, one part of each leg resting on theoor and the other part being secured to a bed end, that improvementwhich includes a pair of levers pivoted on each end frame in spacedrelation to said legs and extending from the middle of the bed and inopposite directions to said legs,

each lever comprising two parts slidably connected with each other tovary the length of the lever and held in alinement with each other, oneend of the lever being connected wtih the leg part resting on the floor,means for raising and lowering the other end of said lever, one of theparts of said lever having two sides between which the other lever partslides, and rollers pivoted between the sides and engaging the upper andlower edges of the other lever part.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS974,495 Jones et al Nov. 1, 1910 1,096,316 Noble May 12, 1914 1,594,835HOE et al. Aug. 3, 1926 2,179,171 Boho Nov. 7, 1939 2,526,466 FriesenOct. 17, 1950 2,651,785 Berner Sept. 15, 1953 2,681,454 Tallman lune 22,1954 2,714,922 McKibban et al Aug. 9, 1955 2,827,641 Reichert et al Mar.25, 1958 2,870,460 Sanford Jan. 27, 1959 2,892,486 Herring June 30, 1959

